315: Chapter 315 The Substitute is Ready

"It's a bit stuffy, I want to go to the balcony for some fresh air," "Dr. Chen" said to a waiter who happened to be passing by.

"The balcony is over there, sir." The waiter pointed in a direction.

The two walked toward the balcony. It was empty, and the lights of Bangkok sparkled in the night.

"Dr. Chen" appeared to be admiring the night view, but in reality, he was using his body to shield Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao quickly operated the equipment inside her handbag, compressing and sending the recently recorded audio file to the Safe House via an encrypted link.

The indicator light for the successful transmission flickered imperceptibly inside the handbag's lining and then went out.

"The wind is a bit chilly, let's head back, Anna," "Dr. Chen" said gently.

"Alright, Doctor," Lin Xiao replied softly.

By the time they returned to the main hall, the appreciation event was nearing its end. No one noticed their brief absence, and even fewer knew that the core evidence of a conspiracy capable of toppling Thailand's political landscape had already transformed into a string of encrypted code within the digital torrent, flying toward Naypyidaw, to the man who controlled the fate of this land.

Naypyidaw, the Underground Strategic Command Center, the deepest secret room.

The lights were adjusted to a level suitable for work; the only sounds in the air were the low hum of operating equipment and the faint rustle of turning pages.

On the massive main screen, the external schematic of the "Siam Twilight" club and the audio waveforms intercepted from within were frozen in place.

On the side split-screen, a preliminary organized and translated transcript of the dialogue scrolled by, with keywords highlighted: "Operation Protector," "Wat Phra Kaew Blessing," "Chaos," "Srettha Government Ousted," "His Majesty's Safety," "Professionals."

Zhang Cheng leaned back in his high-backed chair, fingertips touching, his gaze calmly scanning every word.

He read slowly, as if savoring every filthy detail.

Li Lanzhi stood behind him to the side, holding a tablet displaying more detailed background analyses of personnel and the latest public opinion briefings from within Thailand.

Old K stood like a statue at the edge of the command console, ready to execute orders at any moment.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, it seems," Zhang Cheng finally spoke, his voice crystal clear in the quiet room. "Having lost on the battlefield, they want to flip the table, daring to gamble with their own country's stability and the safety of the royal family. These people deserve to die more than those clumsy generals on the front lines."

Li Lanzhi took a half-step forward, her voice steady: "The intelligence is highly credible. 'Tan Long' is the true mastermind hidden behind the scenes, connecting royalist hardliners, military remnants, the opposition, and external forces. That Army Lieutenant General Songki is Apira's confidant and the specific planner for the execution of the military coup. Their plan is malicious; once a 'terrorist attack' is faked at the Wat Phra Kaew, regardless of its success, it will trigger a constitutional crisis and a populist frenzy, completely halting the peace talk process and potentially dragging Thailand into a longer, bloodier civil war, which perfectly serves the purpose of Eagle-chan and Council of Elders to wear us down."

"Wat Phra Kaew... blessing ceremony..." Zhang Cheng's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest. "The timing?"

"Preliminary intelligence indicates that the blessing ceremony announced by the Royal Household Bureau is scheduled for next Wednesday at 10:00 AM," Old K replied immediately.

"Meaning, they will bring in their so-called 'professionals' and finalize their deployment within the next few days at the earliest." A cold curve formed at the corner of Zhang Cheng's mouth. "They want to play this game of grafting and inciting internal turmoil right under my nose?"

He fell silent for a few seconds, a stream of data seemingly flashing deep in his eyes as he performed a rapid deduction of risks versus rewards and compared various options.

"We will handle this on two levels," Zhang Cheng's voice was resolute. "First, this 'Operation Protector' plan must be strangled in its cradle. No chaos can be allowed to occur, not even a spark. But the method of handling it must be sophisticated."

He looked at Old K: "Order Erica's team to eliminate key nodes before the blessing ceremony, ensuring their absolute safety and remaining undetected. Target priority: first, the top agent of Council of Elders, 'Tan Long.' Second, Lieutenant General Songki, who is specifically responsible for the coordination and execution of the military coup. The method..."

Zhang Cheng paused, the cold light in his eyes intensifying: "It must look like an 'accident,' or better yet, like a 'silencing' following a fallout over internal interests or the exposure of their conspiracy. 'Tan Long' is old; a sudden heart attack is perfectly reasonable. Lieutenant General Songki just suffered a defeat and is unsettled; a drunk driving incident or a tragic traffic accident wouldn't be strange either. As for those 'professionals,' let Erica handle them as she sees fit. Silent elimination is best, but if that's difficult, stage an 'accident' to expose them to Thailand's own security departments—let dog eat dog."

"Understood," Old K replied without emotion, as if he were merely recording a schedule. Such precise, cold-blooded targeted elimination orders were just another form of tactical mission for him and Erica.

"The elimination operations must coincide with the rhythm of the peace talks," Zhang Cheng added. "Ideally, the news of the 'accidents' should reach the Thais while they are still hesitating at the negotiation table or even trying to use 'pressure from domestic hardliners' as leverage. It will be a fine 'gift' to help them see reality and make the 'right' choice."

Li Lanzhi nodded, fully understanding the sharp murderous intent behind such political maneuvering. This wasn't just about eliminating enemies; it was about using their deaths to educate and deter those who remained.

"The second level," Zhang Cheng leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on the virtual system interface on the command console that only he could see. "Eliminating a few pawns only treats the symptoms, not the cause. As long as the symbol of the Thai royal family exists, and as long as external forces can find leverage for infiltration and incitement, similar troubles will arise in the future. The historical issues and territorial disputes of the northern states will also remain permanent hidden dangers."

With a thought, the system interface unfolded clearly on his retina, glowing brilliantly. He ignored the dazzling array of equipment exchange lists and focused his consciousness on the [Advanced Death Soldier Customization] function, which shimmered with a dark golden light. This function had previously brought him Sinwar and Houssa, igniting a prairie fire in the Middle East. Now, it would be used for a more precise and ambitious plan.

"I want to solve the Thailand problem once and for all. At the very least, I will resolve the royal family—the greatest uncertainty." Zhang Cheng's voice was low and firm, as if stating a physical law about to be realized.

Li Lanzhi and Old K both held their breath. They knew Zhang Cheng possessed an incredible "summoning" ability, and that those loyal, fearless, and exceptionally capable Death Soldiers were the foundation of the empire's rise. But at this moment, they sensed a deeper level of planning in Zhang Cheng's tone, one that transcended any previous military operation.

Zhang Cheng's mind entered extremely detailed requirements into the system's customization interface:

[Subject Template]: Male, 70 years old (appearance), thin build but maintaining basic skeletal structure, height 172cm, weight approximately 65kg. Facial requirements: Over 99.5% similarity to the current public visual data of the reigning King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), including facial contours, facial feature details (especially eye shape, bridge of the nose curvature, lip thickness, and habitual micro-expressions), skin tone, distribution of age spots and wrinkles, hairstyle, and hairline.